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Published on: April 25, 2019
Zeptosecond γ-Ray Pulses Generation via FEL-Driven Microbunching and Laser-Compton Scattering
Jinke Xiong1,2, Hanghua Xu3, Liangliang Ji4
1Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
Physical Review Letters
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method for generating high-energy photon bursts in zeptosecond timescales. This technique, combining free-electron lasers and laser-Compton scattering, opens new avenues for studying ultrafast nuclear dynamics and quantum phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Quantum Science
- Laser Physics
Background:
- Generating ultrashort, high-energy photon pulses is crucial for probing ultrafast phenomena.
- Existing methods have limitations in temporal resolution and energy output.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel and reliable method for generating high-energy photon pulse bursts in the attosecond and zeptosecond regimes.
- To enable the study of ultrafast nuclear dynamics and quantum phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Synergistically exploiting free-electron lasers (FELs) and laser-Compton scattering.
- Utilizing a 4 GeV electron beam undergoing the FEL process to emit 0.7 nm radiation and develop microbunching.
- Interacting microbunched electron beams with a 2 ps laser pulse in a head-on Compton scattering configuration.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated high-brightness gamma-photon pulse bursts with durations of approximately 850 zeptoseconds.
- Achieved exceptional signal-to-noise ratios, consistent with theoretical predictions.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of the approach through comprehensive numerical simulations.
Conclusions:
- The proposed technique reliably produces ultrashort, high-energy photon pulse bursts.
- This method provides advanced tools for investigating ultrafast nuclear dynamics.
- Enables novel explorations in quantum science, including quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects.
